Evaluation of Nrf2 and IGF-1 expression in benign, premalignant and malignant gastric lesions

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of Nrf2 and IGF-1 in benign, premalignant, and malignant gastric lesions, and to explore the role of Nrf2 and IGF-1 in gastric carcinoma carcinogenesis. Nrf2 and IGF-1 expression was detected in normal gastric mucosa, hyperplastic polyp, intraepithelial neoplasia, and adenocarcinoma by immunohistochemistry. There was no expression of Nrf2 and IGF-1 in normal gastric mucous membrane. With the elevation of Nrf2, IGF-1 expression, their co-expressions were highly elevated from benign proliferative lesions to malignant lesions. There were significant differences between hyperplastic polyps, intraepithelial neoplasias, and adenocarcinoma (hyperplastic polys vs. intraepithelial neoplasia: P=0.012; hyperplastic polyps vs. adenocarcinoma: P=0.023; and intraepithelial neoplasia vs. adenocarcinoma: P=0.027; hyperplastic polyps vs. adenocarcinoma: P=0.0000, respectively). Nrf2 expression and IGF-1 expression were correlated positively (r=0.337, P=0.037). The increased expression of Nrf2 and IGF-1 may be related to gastric carcinogenesis. Elevated Nrf2 and IGF-1 may play important roles in promoting tumor progression.